Design elements for creating artistic compositions

ABSTRACT

Tiles bearing identical designs comprised of separable components; the tiles being themselves assemblable in various combinations in which their designs merge to create a variety of continuous patterns; the design components of one tile being interchangeable with the corresponding components of the other tiles; some of the tile designs being reversals of others.

United States Patent Gilbert [54] DESIGN ELEIVIENTS FOR CREATING ARTISTIC COMPOSITIONS [72] inventor: Ina Gilbert, 265 Upper Highland Crescent, Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 22 Filed: Feb. 13, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 11,054

[52] US. Cl ..35/27, 161/37, 161/44, 273/157 [51] Int. Cl. ..G09b11/00 5s FieldofSearch ..161/36-38,119, 161/44, s, 116, 122; 35/26, 27; 273/157 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,162,777 6/1939 Hagopian 161/44 1 51 May 30, 1972 2,900,190 8/1959 Pestieau ..273/157 R 3,433,485 3/1969 Renn et al ..35/26 X 3,010,723 11/1961 Moss ..273/157 R 2,715,289 8/1955 Gale ..52/311 Primary Examiner-Philip Dier Attorney-Leon Arthurs ABSTRACT Tiles bearing identical designs comprised of separable components; the tiles being themselves assemblable in various combinations in which their designs merge to create a variety of continuous patterns; the design components of one tile being interchangeable with the corresponding components of the other tiles; some of the tile designs being reversals of others.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures w T was E s N s 9 N PATENTEumao m2 SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR. INA GILBERT agent PATENTEnmao I972 3. 665 6 l 7 sum 2 or 2 0/ 95 L 7' Per $7! aw agent DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR CREATING ARTISTIC COMPOSITIONS The invention relates to means for creating artistic compositions. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a plurality of design elements capable of being arranged and rearranged in a variety of orientations to create a corresponding variety of integrated compositions of more or less artistic merit.

A main object of the invention is to provide means as aforesaid which will facilitate various artistic enterprises such as the teaching of art, artistic expression, artistic experiment, study, research, and other similar activities.

The design elements of the invention fundamentally comprise tiles capable of arrangement as aforesaid in abutting edge-to-edge relation to form composite panels; each of the individual tiles being, in its turn, provided with a surface design comprised in some instances of a complement of interfitting components which create the design on the tile; these components being also design elements according to the invention.

In a preferred form of the invention, the design on each tile extends to its edges and is characterized by the fact that, when the tiles are arranged in composite, panel form as aforesaid, their respective and assembled designs will blend and merge with each other to create a larger, integrated artistic composition which flows across the abutting tile edges.

The invention further provides that the tile designs are identical with each other; the designs, in some instances, being reversed for example, as an image is reflected by a mirror.

When the tile is comprised of interfitting components as aforesaid, such components may be separable elements which are interchangeable between the tiles. That is to say, the tile designs being identical, the corresponding components in the respective complements aforesaid will necessarily also be identical and, hence, interchangeable with each other between the tiles as aforesaid. Said components may, however, contrast with each other texturally and/or chromatically.

Given design elements such as the tiles herein contemplated, it is possible to juxtapose them in a relatively large number of different edge-to-edge arrangements which would be inherently productive of a correspondingly large variety of integrated artistic compositions multiplied, in an understood way and to an understood degree, according to the chromatic or textural variations between the said tile components and to their number as will duly appear.

The above-stated and other more or less broad objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom or may be learned by practice of the invention; the same being realized and attained by the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

In the specification following, the elements, parts, and principles of the invention are disclosed by way of example only in relation to a selected embodiment of the inventive idea illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference devices refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tile according to the invention formed of components which are separable from each other as represented by the double lines;

FIG. 2 is a composition of the tile of FIG. 1 in reduced form flanked on each side respectively by another like but reversed tile; the tile components being lined for the colors blue, brown and green;

FIG. 3 is a composition of four tiles arranged in square form with the components color lined as aforesaid interchanged between them;

FIG. 4 is a composition of two tiles and sections of two others arranged in cruciform fashion around a tile according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an isometric plan view of a modified tile according to the invention having elevated areas,

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the tile of FIG. 1 with its components separated, and

FIG. 7 is an isometric plan view of a modified tile having elevated areas and abutting the edge of another like tile.

Before proceeding with the description of the invention, it should be observed that the term tile" is utilized herein without limitation as regards the material of which it is formed or its dimensions, proportions, contours or any other like properties; the major essentials thereof being that each tile has at least one facet or surface capable of carrying a design as well as two or more edges bounding said facet which are juxtaposable relative to the edges of other tiles.

In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, the selected tile T is of conventional, regular, quadrilateral form having four edges which, for reasons which will more clearly appear in due course, are herein respectively identified by the symbols N, E, S, and W symbolizing the four points of the compass; the edges being so identified irrespective of their orientation in the several views of the drawings.

In the modification of FIGS. 1 to 4, all tiles are generally identified by the reference device T; the three illustrated tiles of FIG. 2 being lined by way of example only for the arbitrarily selected colors blue, brown and green. In addition, each said tile T will be seen to be comprised of identical complements of eight components respectively identified by the numerals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and as will also be obvious, the profiles of said components and the lines along which they meet create the design on tile T.

On examination of tiles T--T shown at the right side of FIG. 2, the design on the end tile will be recognized as a reverse of that in the center; that herein regarded as bearing the reversed design being specifically distinguished from its companion by the specific reference device Tr. If the tile Tr be wholly comprised of the components aforesaid, for example, the reversal of its design may be or have been achieved by the simple expedient of turning it over so that its obverse side is that appearing in said FIG. 2 and in other views in which the tile T appears with its design reversed.

It will be noted that the present tile design and its quadrilateral conformation render the two tiles T-Tr capable of assembly in 8 different orientations.

That is to say, when tiles T-Tr are arranged with their respective edges EE, for example, in juxtaposition with each other as shown in FIG. 2, components 99, 5-5 and 6-6 thereof will match and merge with each other at said edges E- E to integrate the designs carried by the respective tiles T-Tr; the integrations being enhanced when and if any of these paired components are of like colors as shown at the bottom of FIG. 3.

It will now be obvious that the present tiles T-Tr are capable of being arranged in eight orientations to produce eight design mergers and integrations when their respective edges are paired in the following combinations, namely: N-N, S S, W-W, EE N-S, S-N, E-W, and W-E; the first reference character in each of these eight combinations denoting an edge of tile T and the second reference denoting an edge of tile Tr.

The compositions resulting from a few of these orientations are illustrated by way of example only in FIG. 4.

To emphasize further the artistic potential inherent in the instant invention, FIG. 3 illustrates a composition comprised of 4 tiles in square orientation forming a panel P displaying elements and components heretofore described.

In this view the tile components are also arranged as to color. Incidentally, both this view and FIG. 2 are lined to show the abutments of the tiles and of their components. In practice, however, such abutments need not be visible except when the abutting components are differently colored.

In the modification of FIGS. 5 and 7, some of the components of the tile Te are taller than others creating an embossed effect with raised and lowered areas producing a se ulptured eflect on the order of an intaglio or has-relief.

As indicated at the outset to this specification, said tile components 2 to 9 may be freely disassembled from tile T and each other so that a said component may be removed from one tile T and replaced by its counterpart from another tile. In

this respect, the tiles are comparable to identical jigsaw puzzles whose components are respectively interchangeable with each other. The structure described also bears some kinship to the mosaic arts whereby physically similar tesserae, interchangeable with each other, are variously colored to permit monochromatic massing thereof with or without a contrasting inlay.

In the present instance, and bearing in mind that the said tile components may vary from their counterparts in color, texture or even height, it will be seen that the invention affords ample scope for artistic experimentation and composition.

For example, in the four-tile panel P illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be noted that two of the tiles T at the bottom of the said panel P as illustrated are arranged with their edges 8-5 in juxtaposition as at the right hand side of FIG. 2 whereby their components 5-5; 6-6 and 9-9 merge with each other in the manner previously described.

Particular attention is now directed to the fact that both said components 5-5 and 9-9 in this view are similarly colored so that, in combination, they create a single visual mass; other components of the assembled tiles T being also arbitrarily interchanged to yield an artistic result selected by the artist and shaped and proportioned according to his wishes. Generally the abutment of two similarly colored components is not noticeable notwithstanding that the drawing is lined to show such abutment for the sake of clarity.

Although clearly shown by the drawing it is yet deemed worthy of mention that the design on each tile in the present embodiment, while being asymmetrical in itself, is yet so constituted that it is capable of being combined with another tile to form a composition which is either symmetrical about an intermediate axis as shown at the right hand side of FIG. 2 or totally asymmetrical as shown at the left hand side of the same view.

In addition, it will be further obvious that, as best exemplified by FIGS. 3 and 4, the same tiles may create similar symmetrical and asymmetrical designs when disposed in end-toend relation.

As has been said, the means visualized by the invention make it possible to demonstrate and ascertain quickly and effectively the result which can be achieved by the selection, contrasting, expansion and contraction of monochromatic masses and so forth. In addition, said means also permits experimentation on an immediate basis whereby an artistic composition is capable of being varied more or less instantly to enable the artist to appraise his work as it progresses.

Apart from the foregoing, it hardly need be pointed out that the design elements of the invention are capable of being formed into mosaic or mosaic structures of noteworthy merit whether by the arrangement of the instant tiles or of the tile components.

I claim:

I. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship comprising:

a pair of tiles;

an intricate, generally asymmetrical and planar design on each of them extending to its edges, the design at each said edge on each tile differing from that at the other edges and the design on each tile being a reverse of that on the other tile rendering said tiles disposable in the abutting edge-to-edge relationship aforesaid to form a combined pattern which is symmetrical about the abutment of the two tiles;

the design at the edges of each said tile rendering said pair of tiles disposable in at least two other abutting edge-toedge orientations in each of which they form a combined asymmetrical pattern which is continuous across the abutting tiles edges and which differs from that in the other orientation.

2. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

one of the said tiles has two edges which are respectively disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as aforesaid relative to one edge of the other tile in the said two orientations.

3. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said two edges are opposite each other.

4. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 2 including:

a third tile having a design which matches the design on one of the pair of tiles, the tile with the unmatched design having two edges which are respectively and simultaneously disposable in abutting edge-toedge relationship in composition creating relation to one edge of each of the other two.

5. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

each of said three tiles is a quadrilateral with four edges;

two edges of the tile with the unmatched design being respectively disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship in pattern creating relation to at least one edge of each of the other tiles; the other two edges of the tile with the unmatched design being respectively disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship in pattern creating relation to other edges of the other tiles.

6. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-toedge relationship as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

the designs on at least two of the tiles have elevated areas.

7. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

the designs on at least two of the tiles have elevated areas.

8. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

two at least of the said tiles comprise pieces which are incorporated parts of the designs on the tiles and which contrast with each other and are interchangeable between the tiles.

9. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

two at least of the said tiles comprise pieces which are incorporated parts of the designs on the tiles and which contrast with each other and are interchangeable between the tiles.

10. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 9 wherein:

some pieces are taller than others creating a sculptured effeet.

1 1. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 9 wherein:

some pieces are taller than others creating a sculptured effect. 

1. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship comprising: a pair of tiles; an intricate, generally asymmetrical and planar design on each of them extending to its edges, the design at each said edge on each tile differing from that at the other edges and the design on each tile being a reverse of that on the other tile rendering said tiles disposable in the abutting edge-to-edge relationship aforesaid to form a combined pattern which is symmetrical about the abutment of the two tiles; the design at the edges of each said tile rendering said pair of tiles disposable in at least two other abutting edge-to-edge orientations in each of which they form a combined asymmetrical pattern which is continuous across the abutting tiles edges and which differs from that in the other orientation.
 2. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 1 wherein: one of the said tiles has two edges which are respectively disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as aforesaid relative to one edge of the other tile in the said two orientations.
 3. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said two edges are opposite each other.
 4. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 2 including: a third tile having a design which matches the design on one of the pair of tiles, the tile with the unmatched design having two edges which are respectively and simultaneously disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship in composition creating relation to one edge of each of the other two.
 5. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 4 wherein: each of said three tiles is a quadrilateral with four edges; two edges of the tile with the unmatched design being respectively disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship in pattern creating relation to at least one edge of each of the other tiles; the other two edges of the tile with the unmatched design being respectively disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship in pattern creating relation to other edges of the other tiles.
 6. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 4 wherein: the designs on at least two of the tiles have elevated areas.
 7. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 5 wherein: the designs on at least two of the tiles have elevated areas.
 8. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 4 wherein: two at least of the said tiles comprise pieces which are incorporated parts of the designs on the tiles and which contrast with each other and are interchangeable between the tiles.
 9. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 5 wherein: two at least of the said tiles comprise pieces which are incorporated parts of the designs on the tiles and which contrast with each other and are interchangeable between the tiles.
 10. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 9 wherein: some pieces are taller than others creating a sculptured effect.
 11. Design elements disposable in abutting edge-to-edge relationship as set forth in claim 9 wherein: some pieces are taller than others creating a sculptured effect. 